The Melo-drama is over. Carmelo Anthony’s departure from the New York Knicks puts them at the bottom of the totem pole in the Eastern Conference. With that, the Brooklyn Nets once again become the best team in New York.
The New York Knicks traded Carmelo Anthony for pennies on the dollar to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. That is great news for the Brooklyn Nets.
The Knicks are officially in tank mode. Anthony’s presence on the Knicks roster gave New York a fighting chance of making the playoffs in a depleted Eastern Conference. With him now gone, the Knicks will undoubtedly lose games. At some point this season, it will probably be intentionally.
The Knicks, like all other 29 teams in the league, will have their eyes on prized Slovenian prospect Luca Doncic. The 18-year-old was an integral part of Slovenia’s EuroBasket championship this summer and possesses a feel for the game no other prospect figures to possess from this upcoming college season.
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By getting rid of their best player, the team is making it clear that youth is the focus. In addition, the Knicks front office has shown an affinity for international talent. The team has drafted Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia), WIlly Hernangomez (Spain) and Frank Ntilikina (Belgium) in recent years. New York also signed Mindaugus Kuzminskas (Lithuania) last summer and brought back Enes Kanter (Turkey) as the key piece in the Melo deal.
With the Knicks now relying on their young guns, the team is likely to experience severe growing pains. With Doncic serving as the last piece of the puzzle, one that also includes $71 million dollar man Tim Hardaway, the Knicks may be better off tanking next season.
As we know, the Nets have nothing to tank for. Losses piling up for Brooklyn would only strengthen an asset the Cavaliers possess. There is no need to help Cleveland get even better.
Brooklyn, with full health from all of their starters, will be a better team than last year. If the pieces fit and Kenny Atkinson has the team competing game in and game out, Brooklyn can surprise the league and make a playoff push.
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With that in mind, its safe to say that the Nets will reclaim the (not exactly prestigious) title of best team in New York. Since their move to Brooklyn, the Nets have had a better record than the Knicks in two of the last five seasons.
It seems likely that the Nets will even the score. Perhaps Brooklyn will provide New York with playoff basketball. They’re really New York’s only hope this season.